Constant companions

There has been a growing trend of people bringing their pets to work. The choir director at my church travels with her rescue dogs that are in training. Some building contractors have as many dogs as they do employees and I have encountered many a store cat and stepped over plenty of sleeping, elderly dogs while shopping.

Pets in the work place, though they seem unorthodox to some, give me the feeling of connection, a connection to nature.

So, what about a horse? Actually, illustrator Jeannie Brett of York Harbor, Maine, doesn't bring her horse to work; she brings her work to her horse.

Brett's working situation is unique because, "I work from home, my constant companions are my pets. I have a horse, I can take care of my animals and still be working," explains Brett.

Brett grew up in an artistic family. Both of her parents were artistic, there were artists on both sides of her parents' families and, like her, her sister is an artist. Coming from this type of home atmosphere, Brett's talents were just accepted by her family when she was a child, though teachers in school recognized her talents and asked her to do things like bulletin boards for them.

Brett went on to study art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; there she majored in fine arts i.e., stained glass, painting and drawing. There was no illustration program at that time.

From Boston she went on to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minnesota. In her early 20s Brett became a freelance artist on the Seacoast of Maine and New Hampshire working for advertisers and doing lots of children's illustrations.

"Advertising was a lot of black and white line drawing; I was always interested in design. I liked freelancing, trying different things (mediums) to suit a job," says Brett. The flexibility was also helpful while she raised her three children. "I could work early or stay up late and still be home for the kids," she explains.

Brett tried to raise her children the way she was raised.

"I have vivid childhood memories of having outside time with lots of animals. My children had outside time with animals too, time that wasn't scheduled, time to just hang out. I love nature and to be outside, that is my stimulation, it is what guides me.

Vratislavia Sacra

Wroclaw, a Polish city located close to Prague or Krakow and European Capital of Culture 2016 invites interested choirs to the second edition of International Wroclaw Choir Festival VRATISLAVIA SACRA from 13th-15th April 2012.

This festival is open for all amateur choirs and is the only in Poland focusing on sacred music including categories for orthodox church music and spirituals & gospel. Head of the jury will be composer Romuald Twardowski together with Jury members from Russia, Estonia, Sweden and Poland.

Choirs may participate in maximum 3 of the following categories:

Rules In all categories 15% of the singers may be older or younger than above requirements. The choirs must consist of at least 16 amateur singers. Time of the performance on stage (including getting on and off stage) is 15 minutes. Each choir in category A-E prepares the repertoire consisting of 4 sacral pieces:

Please visit the festival´s website for more information: vratislaviasacra.

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